Ys X: Nordics

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Ys X: Nordics is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by PH3 GmbH and was released on October 25, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Ys X: Nordics" is an action RPG available on Steam, featuring the adventurer Adol Christin in a new adventure. The Early Bird Purchase Bonus includes exclusive items and the Digital Deluxe Edition contains various DLCs and costume sets. The game promises fast-paced combat and exploration in a stunning world.

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 664 reviews

story132 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

Engaging story with well-developed characters, particularly the dynamic between Adol and Karja.
Fast-paced and satisfying combat system that encourages strategic play through the new duo mechanics.
Beautiful visuals and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

The naval combat and exploration can feel slow and tedious, especially in the early game.
Some characters and side quests lack depth, making them feel like filler rather than integral to the story.
The game suffers from pacing issues, with too much dialogue and cutscenes interrupting gameplay.

story
406 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The story of "Ys X: Nordics" has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its character-driven narrative and engaging themes, particularly the relationship between Adol and Karja. However, many critics noted issues with pacing, predictability, and a lack of depth in character development, leading to a perception of the story as somewhat bland or cliché. While the game features interesting side quests and a rich world, it struggles to match the emotional impact and complexity of previous entries in the series, particularly "Ys VIII."
- “The story is gripping with a lot of heart in it.”
- “I really enjoyed going through Adol and Karja's interactions and growth throughout the story, and combining that story with the gameplay made it hard for me to put this one down.”
- “The story was pretty cool as well, but it still can't top what Lacrimosa of Dana did for me.”
- “The writing/story is as soulless as the combat.”
- “The story felt very basic or surface-level.”
- “The story is quite predictable but it's done well enough and gets an emotional reaction as they do a really good job in making you like each and every single character.”
gameplay
300 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The gameplay in "Ys X: Nordics" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the new duo mechanic and combat system, which introduces fresh elements like parry-focused mechanics and a revenge gauge. However, the game is criticized for its slow start, excessive dialogue, and the ship gameplay, which many found tedious and unengaging. Overall, while the core combat and exploration remain enjoyable, the execution of new mechanics and pacing issues detract from the experience for some players.
- “The gameplay is as fun as ever, with a satisfying loop that keeps you engaged throughout the adventure.”
- “The most I liked about this game is the gameplay, exploration, and combat; the perfect parry mechanism is a standout feature.”
- “Ys X introduces a whole new combat system with a duo mode that allows for exciting combined attacks, making the gameplay feel fresh and dynamic.”
- “The problem I have is the first 4-6 hours are long boring conversations, most of it with no voice acting and it's just you reading text, with 5-minute drip feeds of actual gameplay every 30 minutes of dialogue.”
- “The main deal-breaker is the fact that the combat in this game sucks, the camera angle is choppy and all over the place, the dodge mechanic sucks, the skill tree makes no sense to me and the mana board thing is impossible to control.”
- “Gameplay is stale and repetitive in a vast and empty open world.”
music
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising it as fantastic and a hallmark of the Ys series, while others feel it falls short compared to previous entries. Many reviewers noted a blend of great tracks alongside some that felt uninspired or repetitive, leading to a consensus that while the soundtrack is generally enjoyable, it lacks the memorable quality of earlier games. Overall, the music remains a strong aspect of the game, but opinions vary on its execution and impact.
- “The music is absolutely phenomenal, staying true to the series' signature style while offering new, memorable tracks that perfectly complement the adventure.”
- “The soundtrack is great and supports this feeling and invites you to run around and discover everything.”
- “With a brilliant soundtrack!”
- “The music is a background track stolen from a 90's Japanese karaoke bar.”
- “The music in the series is definitely getting worse and will continue to get worse if F Corp keeps outsourcing to cheap musicians.”
- “There are some great tracks here and there, but half the soundtrack is taken up by mediocre music that gets really grating after a while of listening to it in-game.”
graphics
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
5%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising improvements in character models, lighting, and animations, while others criticize the overall visual quality as outdated and lacking in detail, particularly in environmental design. Many players noted that while the graphics are serviceable and fit the game's style, they fall short of modern AAA standards, leading to disappointment, especially given the game's full-price tag. Overall, the visuals are seen as a step up from previous entries in the series, but still not enough to impress those expecting cutting-edge graphics.
- “The graphics are a good improvement, particularly the lighting, models, and animations.”
- “The action combat was amazing, songs were almost perfect, and graphics were spectacular.”
- “The graphics and music are excellent... for Ys games.”
- “The graphics are actually embarrassing for a full-priced product released in 2024, and almost every area is practically identical in architecture and thematic design.”
- “The graphics look like they belong in the PS2 era.”
- “The outdated visuals and animations I can personally overlook as a fan, but it can definitely be a turn-off for some people. The game has a great art style, don't get me wrong, but everything else looks like it's from 10+ years ago, which has always been the case with Ys games.”
grinding
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
15%
81%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find the naval combat and ship upgrades enjoyable once mastered, many describe the early stages and certain mechanics as tedious and repetitive. The need for grinding is often mitigated by engaging in side quests and exploration, but some players still feel that the overall pacing can lead to a grindy experience, particularly in the late game. Overall, the enjoyment of grinding seems to depend heavily on player skill and investment in upgrading their ship and abilities.
- “As I did basically everything, I always had the materials for upgrades and whatnot, no farming needed!”
- “The new boat mechanic was cool at first but became tedious towards the end because of how repetitive it was.”
- “Farming and combat gets repetitive towards the end game.”
- “If you build up your ship then it will be very easy, if you don't then it will be very tedious.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The game's optimization has received high praise, with reviewers noting excellent performance across various hardware configurations, including older systems and the Steam Deck. Durante's work on the PC port is highlighted as particularly effective, ensuring smooth frame rates and a range of customizable settings, making it a standout in terms of optimization for a low-budget series. Overall, players appreciate the attention to detail in performance, which enhances the gaming experience significantly.
- “The programmers who ported this to PC have put a lot into optimization, and for such a niche series, it’s appreciated.”
- “Durante did an absolutely fantastic job with optimization as well as making sure FPS did not accelerate the game in unintended ways like previous ports had issues with.”
- “Amazing game so far... super fun gameplay with great optimization and options, and it runs perfectly on Steam Deck.”
- “The series is infamously low budget and they seemingly did not make drastic changes between the Switch version and others, meaning it's capped by the Nintendo potato's performance.”
- “Visually and performance-wise, there isn't really a lot to report here.”
- “As usual, the performance of the PC version for this game is absolutely fantastic, being a port from PS3, and we have an extremely well-optimized game, packed with settings.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging story and character development, which elicits strong reactions from players, particularly through heartfelt moments and impactful dialogue. While some find the narrative predictable, it still manages to create emotional investment, especially in character relationships and family themes. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a fast-paced RPG with a compelling emotional journey, though it may not reach the heights of previous entries like Ys VIII.
- “If you love fast, engaging action combat paired with a heartfelt, adventurous story, you owe it to yourself to give this one a try.”
- “The story is quite predictable but it's done well enough and gets an emotional reaction as they do a really good job in making you like each and every single character.”
- “Dialogue feels impactful, and for me who always uses English dub for Ys X, I can honestly say Ys X has one of the best dubs; everything feels very emotional.”
character development
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some characters, like Karja, experience significant growth, others remain underdeveloped or resolve conflicts too quickly. The voice acting and character design are generally praised, though some characters are seen as bland compared to previous titles. Overall, the depth of the story and character arcs is appreciated, but inconsistencies in development detract from the experience.
- “But don’t get me wrong, there’s so much voice acting, story depth, and character development, you eventually get over it.”
- “Because of that she had good character development and a well-written story.”
- “Karja undergoes some remarkable character development from bland, stereotypical 'me sea raider!'”
- “There were some interesting potential with certain character conflicts, but they don't really go anywhere, or in the best case, resolve way too quickly like certain big character developments that happen later in the main story.”
- “Speaking of characters, I think most of the character designs in this game were pretty bland compared to the last two Ys games and the recent Trails games.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with a blend of lighthearted jokes and serious moments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the awkward yet funny dialogue, which adds to the enjoyment of the fast-paced gameplay. However, some critiques mention that the humor can sometimes mask a lack of meaningful progress, leading to a mindless gaming experience.
- “There's a good mix of drama and humor, and you see their chemistry build quickly.”
- “From its easy-to-pick-up and exciting action gameplay to its sometimes awkward and humorous dialogue, it's just simply fun to play.”
- “The Ys series is great at mixing funny, lighthearted jokes with serious moments without hurting either part.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
Overall, the game's stability is largely praised, with smooth performance and no significant framerate issues or crashes reported. However, some users have encountered glitches, such as prolonged loading times during area transitions and occasional freezes when accessing the in-game menu, which detracts from the experience.
- “From a technical perspective, this port is basically flawless. It runs great, has no framerate dips, and I experienced no crashes.”
- “The PC version runs great, even through Proton (which is how I'm playing it, in Debian).”
- “Looks phenomenal and runs great on Steam Deck OLED too.”
- “My only problem I have is that there are a few glitches that I hope get fixed ASAP.”
- “Sometimes the game will endlessly load when it transitions to a new area (i.e., I fast traveled and it took so long to load that I seriously fell asleep during the game loading and woke up 2 hours later to it still loading). Additionally, sometimes pausing or going to the in-game menu will freeze the game, which really sucks when you have to access those menus to save.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Players express a desire for more playable characters and costumes to enhance replayability. While the game offers a compelling story and cast, the limited number of playable characters—only Adol and Karja—detracts from its overall replay value compared to other titles in the series.
- “More playable characters would be cool and surely more costumes to choose from.”
- “After playing Ys VIII, I really wanted to try this game out. While it is not as good as the masterpiece that is Lacrimosa of Dana, it's still a very good story with a good cast of characters.”
- “Replay value.”
- “After playing Ys VIII, I really wanted to try this game out (I've had issues making my Ys IX literally unplayable with no fixes available to my knowledge). While it is not as good as the masterpiece that is Lacrimosa of Dana, it's still a very good story with a good cast of characters. However, the particularity of this game is that only two of them are playable: Adol, obviously, and the pirate princess, Karja.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for blending a unique vibe with familiar elements that fans appreciated in Ys VIII, particularly in its storytelling and overall ambiance.
- “The game masterfully blends its unique vibe with elements that fans loved about Ys VIII, particularly in storytelling and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing players into a world that feels alive and vibrant.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, making exploration a joy.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that I expected from this game.”
- “Despite some interesting elements, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to immerse me in the world.”
- “The game struggles to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving me feeling disconnected from the experience.”